Morecambe boss Bentley wants no fear against Shrewsbury

Kevin Ellison battles to get Morecambe back into the game against Hartlepool.

The Shrimps host high-flying Shrewsbury tonight, Tuesday, after slipping to a third Globe Arena defeat in a row at the hands of bottom side Hartlepool on Saturday.

Andy Parrish’s own goal was enough to hand Ronnie Moore’s side victory on a day when nerves seemed to spread throughout The Shrimps side.

Bentley said: “Sometimes they look like they’re scared to make a mistake.

“There was a nervous edge at the back that spread through which is disappointing.

“It’s not us who are rooted to the bottom of the table. We’ve got everything to play for.

“We probably weren’t brave enough to get on it and create more.

“We’re going to have one or two off days but we want them to be brave at all times.”

Bentley is ready for Tuesday night to pose different problems as The Shrimps go from facing League 2’s bottom side to one third in the table.

The Shrimps boss said: “Tuesday will be a completely different test with Shrewsbury fighting to get out of the league and Hartlepool fighting at the bottom.

“They were excellent at their place and I said before the start of the season with the players they’d signed that they’d be one of the teams to beat this season.

“That’s been proven and although they lost on Saturday against Wycombe they’re still in the automatics and they’ll be doing their upmost to get out of the league.

“It’ll be a very difficult game for us but hopefully we can start getting points on the board at home.”

Such is Morecambe’s recent form, with fine results in seemingly more difficult games on the road, Bentley admits he wouldn’t be surprised if his side turned over Micky Mellon’s men for a much-needed home win.

He said: “It’s been very, very up and down and we’ve been very, very inconsistent.

“Football being the way it is though it wouldn’t surprise me if we went and won the game.

“It’s very, very frustrating. There’s a lack of something and it’s up to us to find out what that is.

“You can’t be as good as we were in the first half against Luton (a 3-2 win away from home) and then not put in a performance against Hartlepool.”

Ryan Edwards will be back from suspension after serving a one-game ban against Hartlepool.

Shaun Beeley and Kevin Ellison will be assessed after picking up knocks in Saturday’s defeat but Jamie Devitt could return after sitting the game out with a groin problem.